Skip to main content

Using music for transitions in the classroom



So I think that this year I am going to use music for transitions in my classroom. 

I have found several online alarm clocks that use Youtube videos, so the possibilities are endless!








To begin class
I figure that I will set one alarm when we begin our bell ringer. Students will know that once the song ends, there bell ringer better be done! I've decided that I am going to use my last name to my advantage and use the Harry Potter score as my bell ringer music because it is approximately five minutes long. I also think that since it is a film score without lyrics it will not be distracting as the students work. (Added bonus it will get the kids feeling like hers before class starts!)

A few other good options for an opening class song:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Jurassic Park

Harry Potter


My Heart Will go on Instrumental 

Moving groups
Because I have the students break out into learning groups so often and/or switch desks to different stations, I needed some short songs for transition. I figure that theme songs would be a great tool for this time!

Some options for short theme songs for transitions:


Bill Nye the Science Guy 

Fuller House


The Real Ghostbusters Cartoon


Duck Tales

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Exit Tickets
During exit ticket time I would like to have another instrumental piece to play so students know how long they have. I found these great violinists on Youtube that cover current popular songs and I think they would be perfect for this time!

Rhett Price




Daniel Jung




 Ending Class
During the last 2 or so minutes of class when students are picking up or packing up, I thought this would be a good time to have some educational songs so that the time is not wasted. 



Flocabulary Songs


Tour the United States


The 44 Presidents


Tour the world (this would take two days)

School House Rock Videos!

I am super excited about using music transitions in my classroom this year. Have any of you used music as a transition piece before? If so, what did you use and how did it go?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Teaching Point of View with Video Games

I was looking for new ways to introduce point of view and I stumbled across a GREAT idea! Using video games! There are tons of video games in different points of view. Halo=First person point of view Mario 64= Second person point of view Tomb Raider=Third person limited point of view The Sims=Third person omniscient point of view A great video overview that I found:
Post a Comment
Read more

1,000 Pens update

My 1,000 pens came in the mail! I thought I would show you guys what they look like! Want your own cheap box of 1,000 pens? Click Here   To read that blog post On a side note I found an awesome recipe that I made tonight with Basil from my garden. I liked it so much I thought I would share it with you! Tomato, Mozzarella, Quinoa, and Basil Salad
Post a Comment
Read more

Short Stories from a Middle School Teacher: Gold Stars

Gold Stars One of my favorite things to do my third year of teaching was team teach. The Civics and Economic teacher and I would put our classes together regularly so we could create cross curricular stations and activities for the kids. The arrangement worked out great because, even though there were more kids in the room, the kids were less willing to act up with two authority figures in the room. One day the Civics teacher’s side of the room was going downhill and fast, while my side of the room was behaving like angels. Finally, he called out, “Whoever is being good will get a gold star!” (Amazingly 8th graders coveted these stars like none other). The room got completely silent and without missing a beat one of the students on my side of the room said, “You mean like Hitler did to the Jewish people?” I suppressed my laughter and thought to myself, “Yes, finally they are retaining true things about WWII!” Then I thought to myself, “Too bad I don’t teach history.”
Post a Comment
Read more